Monthly Administrative Updates
March 2025 Administrative Update
by T'Hani Pantoja
Parkdale Elementary Principal
Beyond the Bell: Enriching Student Experiences through Parkdale’s Clubs
At Parkdale Elementary, learning doesn’t stop when the school day ends—it continues to grow, flourish, and inspire through our engaging before and after-school clubs. Over the past three years, our offerings have expanded to provide students with meaningful opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills, and build lasting friendships.
Evolution of Clubs at Parkdale
Three years ago, inspired by clubs' success in our middle and high schools, Parkdale Elementary introduced its club lineup to engage our younger learners outside regular school hours. We have added new clubs each year, catering to diverse interests and promoting holistic development.
Highlighting Our Clubs
Podcast Club: Led by our esteemed librarian, Mr. Duff, the Podcast Club has been a beacon of creativity and expression for Grades 3 and 4 students. This club empowers students to delve into topics of interest, conduct research, and present their findings through engaging podcasts. Episodes cover Parkdale's character traits, school spirit, and more and are available for all to enjoy on Spotify. Tune in, and you will learn about everything from sports trivia to amazing animal facts. To listen, just search “Parkdale Pride Podcast” on Spotify and look for the blue paw print logo!
Parkdale Spirit Club: This year, our Spirit Club, designed by AIS teacher Miss Jenny Kibler, has embraced a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) theme with an exciting project—building Paper Marble Roller Coasters. Students in second through fourth grades have collaborated in small groups to design and construct intricate roller coaster structures, showcasing their teamwork and problem-solving skills. The culmination of their efforts will be unveiled at our upcoming STEAM Night, where they will demonstrate their creativity and engineering skills.
Parkdale Page Turners Book Club: Designed for our avid young readers, the Page Turners Book Club encourages a love for reading through monthly book discussions and explorations of various genres. Led by a published author and AIS teacher, Mrs. Christie Koester Welsby, Grades 3 and 4 students have immersed themselves in literary adventures, recently diving into Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein.
Yearbook Club: New this year, our Yearbook Club has provided fourth-grade students with an opportunity to capture and celebrate the memories of the 2024-2025 school year. Through collaborative efforts, students have embraced the theme "Parkdale Grows Together," designing layouts and organizing content to create a memorable keepsake for our school community. The club has also sparked creativity with its inaugural Yearbook Cover Contest, showcasing the artistic talents of our students. The club advisor is Mrs. Kari Ernst.
In addition to these clubs, I am excited to share that we are piloting a new Unified Club this second semester inspired by the successful middle and high school models. Our Unified Club will meet monthly for an hour, engaging students in team-building activities with the support of the Middle and High School Unified Clubs. Through these sessions, students will develop friendships, practice collaboration, and strengthen their sense of community at Parkdale.
Community Partnerships
In addition to our school-sponsored clubs, Parkdale Elementary collaborates with the Holland/East Aurora Community Education Program and the Town of Aurora Recreation Department to offer a variety of after-school clubs. These include the Rising NY Road Runners, Spanish Club, Challenge Club, Craft Clubs, Chess Club, and Yoga, providing even more opportunities for students to explore their interests and develop new skills beyond the classroom.
Conclusion
As we continue to expand and innovate with our club offerings, the benefits for our students are clear: enhanced learning experiences, development of social and emotional skills, and a deeper connection to our school community. I am incredibly proud of our students and advisors' dedication and enthusiasm.